Even more so, on the second debate Adam Boulton made a comment that, quite frankly, really irked me. The reason for that was I feel it influenced the debate… all he brought up was the fact Nick Clegg was on the front of the front cover of The Telegraph, for reasons questioning his finances. My problem was it was the job of the leaders to debate and question things. Adam’s role was quite clearly that of a moderator. In all honesty I feel it was part of the smear campaign against the Lib Dems that The Times, The Sun (both papers owned by the same company that owns Sky News) and The Telegraph has propagated.

I hugely encourage others to go ahead and make a complaint to Ofcom using this link. I am certain this breaks the rules of conduct Sky had to agree to in order to be able to make the broadcast. As a side note, being a part-time film editor I am fairly confident many subtle features such as camera angles, framing and the like aimed to undermine Nick Clegg. Obviously that is nothing I am firm about, but in all honesty wouldn’t surprise me given News Corporation‘s track record.

Feel free to use my letter to Ofcom as a template.

Already questioning the impartiality of Sky in political matters, I wish to make a formal complaint with regards to Adam Boulton’s comments to Nick Clegg on being “on the front cover of The Telegraph”.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but the rules for the debates made clear that the role of the presenter would be that of a moderator, rather than to interject additional comments more in the style of TV reporting. I feel his comments were nothing more than to influence the debate, when this was quite clearly the job of the LEADERS to DEBATE.

I would be interested to see how, legally, Sky stands on this issue; as being the role of a moderator Adam had NO RIGHT to influence the discussion (other than to select who was to speak and for how long).

What I saw on ITV1 tonight was not really a debate. Gordon Brown and David Cameron were so worried with getting on Nick Clegg‘s bad side that they couldn’t say a single bad word about him. And the two leaders, of parties that have had a monopoly on Parliament for over 50 years, were left to bicker between themselves.

In a sense I feel sad that Clegg was almost denied the opportunity for proper debate as it seems he was given “special treatment”. Yet at the same time I find it very reassuring that the only truly democratic party in Parliament had this platform to say “actually, you don’t have to believe them lot”.

What amazed me most, however, was the 40+% approval rating of Nick compared to David and Gordon; He ended up with more people thinking he was the best then either of his opponents put together. It has given me even more confidence that, actually, it is worth fighting for change because a lot of people would like change. Plus with a majority of people watching the programme being made up of those who will vote, it could lead to some very interesting results come election day.

Still, there is a long while yet. For those interested in the Liberal Democrats winning in a few weeks time, I’d sign up to become a volunteer for the party. You don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with, and there’s an opportunity to make a difference locally.

That is why I’m Lib Dem, and why I am standing for them as a councillor. If I was in power, and if the party got in power, they would want to give it away. To you.